Photograph-enlarging light box



July 3, 192s. 1,615,183

C. L. BEAL PHOTOGRAPH ENLARGING LIGHT BOX 'Filed April 22, 1925 WMM@ Patented` July 3, 1928.

CHARLES L. BEAL, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

PHOTOGRAIPH-ENLARGING LIGHT BOX.

Application led April 22, 1925. Serial N0. 24,981.

This invention relates to a photographie reproducing apparatus for making reduced, enlarged or equal sized photographs, by projection, from negatives, also the illumination of negatives by transmitted light for the purpose of making lantern slides or transparencies by photographic process, and its object is to produce a more evenly distributed and diffused light over the entire area of the negative without condensers, flashed opal or ground glass, or any other artificial means of diifusion being placed between the negative and the source of light than has heretofore been obtained by the use of'such artificial means ofdiii'usion, and at the same time to retain approximately all the definition and detail obtained in contact printing. It will be understood by those skilled in the art (of photographic reproduction) that 2o it is very diiiicult, if not impossible, With all ordinary apparatus, to produce enlargements, etc., Without more or less loss of definition and detail and without more or less uneven printing` circles of diffusion, and

' 25 spots appearing in the prints.

In /order to lessen these troubles various kinds of reflecting mirrors, condensing lenses, flashed opal and groundv glass plates, paper and cloth screens, etc., have been used to break up and scatter the light rays over the area of the negative to be printed, projected or photographed. Optically ground and corrected mirrors, lenses and plates for diffusion purposes would be prohibitive in price and the commercial articles now on the market fail to produce the even diffusion desired. l

The present invention contemplates only the use of'reected light, and is so arranged 40 that no light whatever from the lamps used can directly strike the negativ A' plurality of plane surfacesY are used'to control and direct the light to the negative which will reflect the light to all parts of the plate, thereby'eliminating the uneven distribution of the light over the-area of the negative and avoiding the necessity of mirrors, lenses,

` glass plates or other screens.

In the present instance a series of nine fiat reflecting surfaces are used and they are so arranged as to control practically all of the light and to direct it to the area in which the negative is placed, the surfaces being placed at right angles to the line of direction of the reflected beam of light to the nevative to be printed from, and the reflecting vsame reference numeral isapplied to the same portion throughout, but we are aware that there may be modicationsthereof.

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the light box showing the camera on the front thereof on line 1 1, Fig. 2.

` Fig. 2 is a plan view in section of the light` box. on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the reflecting surfaces showing the arrangement of the several planes used.

The numeral 1 indicates the back of the light box, and 2 the front to which the focussing camera 3 is attached, the bed 4 on which the camera is slidable being supported by the front as Well.

The .flight box front and back has the" panels 6 to 9, connecting them at top, bottom and sides.

Inside the front 2 there is a boxlike shield 17 to prevent any direct rays from the lamps 18, which are mounted on the inside of the front, from striking the plate in the holder 19.

At the back of the light box there are eight plane supports, 2O to 27 |inclusive, arranged so a line from any point on the plate to a corresponding point on them will strike them at a right angle to their faces. These supports may then be covered with any one of the surfaces mentioned, as indicated at 29, and the center of the back 28 has the refleeting member 29 secured thereto. Since there is very little reiiection from the surfaces used at an angle reverse to the angle of incidence, the only light striking the plate is that of a glow with substantially uniform illumination over the entire body of the late.

All the parts of the box, except the sur? idifused, that no ground glass, or other screen, at the` negative is necessary, and much better results are attained than is possible with any such screen, 'ictures made with this box having full etail to their edges.

What I claim is as follows, but modifications may be made in carrying out the inven-l tion shown in the drawings and in the above the plate covered With a 2. In a light box for-reproducing cameras,

" the combination of an enclosure, a plate support on one end therefor, a series of lights in the enclosure surrounding said plate, a shield to prevent direct rays rom the lights from striking the plate, and .several light reflecting surfaces being arranged at predetermined angles whereby their 'normally reflected beamswill be superposed on the plate to be reproduced. v

Y 3. In a light box for reproducing cameras,

the combination of an enclosure, a plate support on one end therefor, a Iseries oflights 1n thel enclosure surrounding said plate, a shield to fromvstri ng the plate, and several plane light reflecting surfaces arranged normal to lines therefrom to corresponding points on the plate covered with a material capable of reflecting an equally diffused light to all parts vof said plate.

4. In a light box for reproducing cameras, the combination of an enclosure, a plate support therefora-series of lights in the enclosure surrounding said plate, a shield to prevent direct rays from the lights from strik-v and several plane light reing the plate` arranged at predeterlecting surfaces bein mined angles where lected beams will be superposed on the plate to be re roduced.

5. A pb prising a back, front, sides, top and bottom members, a box like shield fixed on the front lamps mounted on said front member surrounding said shield, a (plurality of flat reflecting surfaces mounte so that the light in said lam will be reflected on the plate in said shie d, and a camera on the outside of said box.

otograph enlarging light box com` pevent direct rays from the lights y their normally remember, a plate lin the back of said shield,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto setmy hand this 16 day of April, A. D. 1925.

CHARLES L.l BEAL. 

